Football News

Paris — French football may be on the verge of its most glamorous appointment in years, as reports circulate that Zinedine Zidane is poised to become the next manager of the national team. The 1998 World Cup winner and former Real Madrid coach is said to be the preferred candidate to take the reins of Les Bleus, succeeding the current bench boss whose tenure has come under increasing scrutiny. Sources close to the federation indicate that discussions have accelerated in recent days, with the 51-year-old legend emerging as the standout option to restore both results and swagger to a squad brimming with talent. Zidane, who steered Real Madrid to three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018, is viewed by senior officials as the ideal figure to unite a dressing room that has occasionally splintered under pressure. While the French Football Federation has yet to confirm an agreement, insiders suggest an announcement could arrive before the next international break. Should the move materialize, it would mark a sensational return to the global stage for Zidane, whose calm demeanor and tactical acumen transformed Los Blancos into Europe’s dominant force during his first managerial stint. For a nation that cherishes flair and silverware in equal measure, appointing one of the sport’s most iconic figures signals a bold statement of intent ahead of upcoming qualifying campaigns and the 2026 World Cup on the horizon.

TAMPA, Fla. – Latrell Wrightsell Jr. waved his arms toward the Crimson-clad crowd, the moment captured as he celebrated another dagger three that all but sealed Alabama’s 90-65 victory over Texas Tech and a ticket to the Sweet 16. The senior guard’s emotion summed up a night when experience trumped everything inside Benchmark International Arena. Wrightsell poured in 24 points on 7-of-10 shooting, drilling 6-of-9 from beyond the arc, to pace five Crimson Tide players in double figures. Backcourt mate Houston Mallette added 15 points and eight rebounds, canning five triples of his own, while forward Noah Williamson supplied a perfect 3-for-3 outing for eight points. The trio combined for 47 points, embodying head coach Nate Oats’ pre-game message: seniors don’t let seasons end in March. “We came out there with energy and effort that wasn’t matched today,” Wrightsell said after the game. “I don’t feel pressure—I feel preparation.” Preparation turned into dominance early. Alabama opened on a 14-2 burst, stretched the margin to 49-25 by halftime and peaked at 34 in the second half. Each Red Raiders run stalled against a veteran counterpunch: Mallette tracked down a loose ball for a momentum-killing three, Williamson slipped a back-door cut for an and-one, Wrightsell stepped into transition corners and buried them. Defensively, the Crimson Tide harassed Texas Tech into 34 percent shooting overall and a frigid 16 percent from deep. The Red Raiders never found rhythm against Alabama’s switching man-to-man, managing only two fast-break points. “All three of these seniors came with the mentality we’re not going home,” Oats said. “Be about the right stuff, lose yourself in the game, and the other stuff takes care of itself.” For Mallette, the performance capped a winding journey. After redshirting last season and fighting for minutes, the Pepperdine transfer has evolved into a indispensable piece. Oats calls him a “future coach” and hopes he stays within the program when his eligibility ends. “I told everybody I don’t want to leave Alabama. I will die for this school,” Mallette said. “We’ve dealt with more adversity than any program in the country, but our response is what matters.” Junior forward Taylor Bol Bowen, who rooms with Wrightsell on the road, said the seniors’ influence stretches far beyond shot-making. “When they play well, it makes all of us happy with their infectious energy,” Bol Bowen noted. “It’s everything for us, especially off the court.” Freshmen starters Amari Allen and London Jemison echoed that sentiment, calling Wrightsell and Mallette “big brothers” whose example steadies the youngest rotation in Oats’ five Sweet 16 trips. Alabama (28-7) advances to face Michigan next week in Chicago, but the immediate vibe in the locker room was gratitude. Another game means another week together, another bus ride, another scouting report—another chance to extend a career. “You never want to stop playing,” Wrightsell said. “We fought to move on, and that’s what we did.” The Crimson Tide will need a similar collective effort against the Wolverines, yet for one night in Tampa, senior leadership turned a knockout-round matchup into a statement victory, setting off a celebration worthy of the tournament’s biggest stage.

MIDLAND, Texas—The Scharbauer Sports Complex echoed with cheers and cleats this weekend as the West Texas All-Star Classic brought together youth squads from every corner of the state. Teams from Odessa, Midland, Lubbock, El Paso and San Angelo converged for three days of nonstop action, spanning age groups from 5-and-under flag football through 14-and-under tackle. Pool play on Saturday and Sunday set the stage, with each program battling for one of the coveted quarterfinal and semifinal berths in its division. By Championship Sunday the stakes were unmistakable: every snap, every route and every tackle carried title implications. When the final whistles blew, a new batch of divisional champions had been crowned, adding their names to the growing legacy of the event.

Manchester United’s long-standing admiration for Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies has been confirmed by Sport Bild’s Christian Falk, yet any concrete pursuit remains on hold after the Canadian international signed a contract extension at the Allianz Arena. Falk reports that United officials first positioned themselves at the negotiating table when uncertainty lingered over Davies’s future in Bavaria, and the Premier League club continues to monitor developments. The 23-year-old’s new deal complicates a potential transfer, but sources indicate that Bayern would at least entertain a conversation should an enticing offer arrive. Persistent injury setbacks have prompted internal debate among Bayern bosses over whether additional cover is required on the left flank, especially with Hiroki Itō viewed as a capable deputy. While no formal bid has been tabled by United, Falk insists that the reigning German champions would weigh the merits of a lucrative proposal, mindful of the significant financial outlay already committed to secure Davies’s extension. Despite the speculation, selling the dynamic full-back still appears improbable. Bayern’s reluctance is underscored by Davies’s importance when fit, even as his recent spell of ailments raises questions about squad depth. For United, left-back remains a priority area with Luke Shaw’s ongoing fitness concerns, yet prising Davies away from Bayern would demand a premium fee and persuasive negotiations. For now, United’s interest remains in the scouting phase, and any move hinges on Bayern’s willingness to reverse course on a prized asset they fought to retain. The situation bears watching as the summer window approaches, but the balance of power clearly lies with the Bundesliga giants.

San Diego – Arizona’s march through the West Region required every ounce of its depth Wednesday night, but when the horn sounded inside a raucous Viejas Arena the top-seeded Wildcats were still standing, 73-64 victors over No. 9 Utah State and owners of a fourth Sweet Sixteen berth in the past five seasons. Guard Brayden Burries, limited to seven first-half minutes after picking up two quick fouls, re-entered with 14:41 remaining and promptly detonated an 18-point second-half cushion, drilling a momentum-stopping three and then creating a late isolation bucket that pushed the lead to 73-64 with under a minute to play. The Aggies, who clawed within five on multiple occasions, never drew closer. The Wildcats’ early script mirrored their opening-round rout of Long Island: tenacious defense, rim pressure, and opportunistic outside shooting. Arizona buried 4 of 8 threes in the first 13 minutes while holding Utah State to 4-of-15 inside the arc, racing to a 27-16 advantage. Yet the Aggies, widely regarded as the nation’s premier mid-major, refused to fold. A 9-0 Wildcat burst that made it 51-33 with 14:41 left appeared to be the knockout punch, but Utah State answered with a methodical 18-8 surge, trimming the deficit to 59-51 and forcing Arizona into six second-half turnovers in a three-minute span. With 7:27 to go and the scoreboard reading 56-49, Arizona’s Koa Peat picked up his fourth foul, sending Utah State to the line and the partisan Wildcat crowd into anxious murmurs. The Aggies twice sliced the gap to five, the last time at 66-61 on a pair of free throws with 3:24 remaining. Each time, Burries responded—first with a pull-up jumper, then with a step-back triple that restored a double-digit cushion and quieted the Utah State contingent that had turned Viejas into a wall of sound. Arizona finished 8-of-19 from beyond the arc and 19-of-48 inside it, numbers that underscored the game-long tactical chess match: Utah State packed the paint, daring the Wildcats to beat them from deep, while Arizona countered with relentless dribble penetration and second-chance opportunities. The Aggies shot 38 percent overall and were out-rebounded 37-29, a margin that loomed large in a contest decided by a handful of possessions down the stretch. The victory sends Arizona into the regional semifinal, keeping alive national-title expectations that have trailed the program all season. Utah State exits at 28-7, its best campaign in school history, having pushed the tournament’s No. 1 seed to the final media timeout before running out of answers—and time. Arizona now awaits the winner of Thursday’s Iowa-Florida clash, setting up a potential blue-blood showdown in the Sweet Sixteen. For the moment, the Wildcats can exhale, having survived their first true March test and proven, once again, that they have more dudes when it matters most.

Jerry Hanlon, a fixture on the Michigan sideline for more than two decades, has died at 96. Hanlon spent 23 seasons with the Wolverines, the bulk of that tenure working under legendary head coach Bo Schembechler. Known for his demanding style and keen eye for line play, Hanlon was widely credited with molding the tough, rugged offensive and defensive fronts that became a hallmark of Michigan football during his era. His longevity and influence helped shape the program’s identity, leaving an imprint that extended well beyond his retirement.

Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith has started every game but six since entering the league in 2021, yet the path to becoming a two-time Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champion was nearly derailed before his NFL career began. During an otherwise routine offseason workout at the University of Tennessee, Smith felt his body shut down without warning. “I can’t stand up straight. I can barely catch my breath,” Smith recalled. “I’m like, ‘Damn. Am I that out of shape? What is going on?’ …I lost 13 pounds in a day. I feel horrible.” The then-college lineman received an urgent call from the team physician: stay put; an ambulance was on the way. Hours later, doctors delivered a sobering diagnosis—blood clots had formed in both of his lungs. The physician’s next words remain seared into Smith’s memory: “They can be fatal.” Catching the clots early likely saved his life, though physicians still classified the episode as severe. While the diagnosis rocked his world, Smith’s first concern reflected the single-minded focus that would later define his professional career. “I just remember thinking at the time, almost ignorantly, like, ‘Will I still be able to play football?’” he said. “Like, what’s my timeline for getting back?” Only after doctors reiterated the life-threatening nature of the condition did the offensive lineman grasp the gravity of his situation. Following treatment and a full recovery, Smith entered the 2021 NFL Draft with a clean bill of health. The Chiefs selected him in the sixth round with the 226th overall pick, and he immediately became a mainstay on the league’s most explosive offense. Smith’s durability and performance earned him Pro Bowl nods in both 2024 and 2025, and last summer the Chiefs locked him up with a four-year, $94 million extension that made him the highest-paid guard in football. Given both his on-field production and the medical scare he overcame, few players have proven more worthy of the lucrative deal.

Spokane, WA — Within minutes of Gonzaga’s 70-66 Round-of-32 loss to Texas on Saturday, a FanDuel tweet lit the match: “Should Gonzaga fire Mark Few?” The reaction was swift, loud, and—according to anyone who has followed college basketball this century—absurd. Few has guided the Bulldogs to 27 consecutive NCAA tournaments and nine Sweet 16s in the past 11 years. Over the last decade, no program owns more March victories than Gonzaga’s 28, a total that eclipses blue-blood brands Kansas, Duke, and Kentucky. Yet the Zags’ third seed and early exit were enough to turn Twitter into a digital kangaroo court. Kansas-centric account @RockChalkBlog, followed by 23,000 users, typified the pile-on: “Another year where Gonzaga boatraces a swath of crap in the WCC, racks up lots of wins, gets a bloated seed, and comes up short in the NCAA tournament. It’s never happening for Mark Few, ever.” The facts suggest otherwise. Gonzaga finished 30-3, defeated eight Power-Four opponents, and beat three teams that advanced out of the tournament’s first round. The West Coast Conference placed three schools in the field, and Santa Clara—one of those supposed “cupcakes”—had Kentucky on the ropes until a last-second half-court heave. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 7 in the NCAA’s NET metric, and a season-long injury to second-leading scorer Braden Huff likely cost them a No. 2 seed. Historical context also undercuts the critique. Gonzaga is 2-0 versus Kansas in the past five seasons, including an 89-68 thrashing of the fourth-seeded Jayhawks in the 2024 NCAA event. Former ESPN analyst Darren Rovell offered a different angle to his 1.8 million followers, suggesting the Bulldogs’ relevance was an “anomaly” that name-image-likeness money would erase. Since NIL’s 2021 arrival, however, Gonzaga has produced an Elite Eight and two Sweet 16s—hardly a program poised to cede ground to the next High Point. Critics from NBA meme pages, Missouri radio hosts, and Seattle sport-talkers joined the chorus, but none could explain how a Jesuit school in Spokane with no football bowl budget keeps outrunning most of the nation. The answer remains Mark Few, whose nearly three-decade tenure provides the continuity that modern mid-majors almost never achieve. As Gonzaga prepares for its move into the restructured Pac-12—where it will devote the bulk of its resources to basketball while future league mates subsidize football—the path to a 28th straight tournament berth looks more probable than another early exit. Zags backers, the message is simple: let the timeline rage. History, metrics, and the roster returning in 2025 all say Few’s program will be back in the second weekend sooner than the detractors think. Keywords:

BIRMINGHAM — Labaron Philon’s shot refused to fall, yet the sophomore guard still steered second-seeded Alabama to a 90-65 second-round victory over Texas Tech, ensuring the Crimson Tide’s continued march through the South Region. Philon, who torched Hofstra for 29 points on Thursday, finished with a modest nine points on 2-for-12 shooting, including 2-for-8 from beyond the arc. The off-night from the field, however, did little to diminish his overall impact: he dished out a career-high 12 assists, corralled six rebounds and flirted with his second straight triple-double before finishing with four turnovers in 29 minutes. The performance flipped the script on his traditional role. After averaging 20.4 points entering the weekend, Philon became the game’s primary playmaker, repeatedly collapsing the Red Raiders’ zone and finding open teammates for easy looks. His 12 assists tied the program’s NCAA Tournament record for a single game, set in 1991. Alabama shot 54 percent from the floor, and Philon initiated much of the offense. He recorded five assists in the first 10 minutes as the Tide built an early double-digit cushion, then added seven more after halftime as the lead ballooned past 20. His lone first-half field goal came from deep, a right-wing triple that gave Alabama a 19-10 advantage. He added a second three midway through the second half to push the margin to 28. Despite the shooting slump, Philon’s fingerprints were everywhere. He grabbed a team-high five rebounds in the opening period, finished with six overall, and his four turnovers were offset by the dozen assists that kept possessions alive. The guard entered the day fifth on Alabama’s single-season scoring list with 681 points; the nine-point output leaves him 16 shy of overtaking Mark Sears’ 2024-25 campaign and Brandon Miller’s 2022-23 tally for third place. With the win, Alabama advances to the Sweet 16 for the third time in five years. Philon’s next opportunity to climb the record books — and rediscover his stroke — arrives next weekend.

Los Angeles—YouTube-turned-wrestling personality Logan Paul issued a public apology to seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady on Sunday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the two crossed paths at the Fanatics flag football event in Los Angeles. Paul, who competed in Saturday’s exhibition, addressed Brady directly in a social-media post, acknowledging an unspecified incident that occurred during the star-studded charity game. While the 29-year-old did not elaborate on what prompted the mea culpa, he described the moment as “a lesson in respect” and thanked Brady for “setting the standard.” Brady, 46, has not publicly responded to the apology. The Fanatics event, which pairs celebrities with former NFL players, concluded without further controversy.

Piscataway, N.J. — Less than a week after crowning five medalists at the individual state championships in Atlantic City, Jackson Township showed why depth still matters most, rolling past Morris Hills 47-15 to capture the NJSIAA Girls Wrestling Team Championship at Rutgers Athletic Center on February 22, 2026. The Jaguars’ dominance was on display from the opening whistle, but the bout that best illustrated their superiority came at 120 pounds, where senior Marlowe Donato—fresh off a third-place finish at Boardwalk Hall—methodically dismantled Sophia Salazar 9-0 for a major decision that widened Jackson’s already comfortable margin. “We don’t need superstars; we need six minutes of effort across fourteen weight classes,” veteran head coach Joe Lemke told reporters afterward, echoing the philosophy that carried Jackson to a flawless 19-0 dual-meet record this winter. “Tonight was another example of our girls buying in, executing technique, and trusting the training.” Donato’s victory capped a remarkable two-week stretch for the senior, who reached the individual semifinals last weekend before battling back through the consolation bracket to secure bronze. Her major over Salazar provided four critical team points and set the tone for a lineup that surrendered only three bouts all evening. Jackson’s path to the inaugural team title was paved during the individual tournament, when Donato (114), Briana Dugo (126), Ava Bonilla (100), Madison Reach (107) and Victoria Tandari (132) combined for 79 points to edge Central Regional 72 and claim the state’s championship banner. By adding the dual-meet crown seven days later, the program became the first in New Jersey history to sweep both major postseason prizes in the same season. “We heard all year that we didn’t have a state champ, so we couldn’t win anything meaningful,” Donato said while clutching her latest medal. “But wrestling is a team sport, and every point counts—tonight we made that point loud and clear.” The Jaguars will celebrate the historic double this week before shifting focus to sustaining a run that, according to Lemke, shows no signs of slowing. “We had freshmen and sophomores in the lineup tonight who will only get better,” he noted. “If they keep buying in the way this senior class has, Jackson will be in the conversation for a long time.”

East Rutherford, N.J.—The New York Jets’ latest balance sheet reads like a cautionary tale of modern roster management: $48 million in cap space—roughly 16 percent of this year’s ceiling—has evaporated into “dead” charges tied to two quarterbacks no longer on the roster, ESPN’s Rich Cimini reported Tuesday. That figure represents the combined cap remnants of Aaron Rodgers and Justin Fields, the team’s last two opening-day starters. While Rodgers’ exit after an injury-marred tenure was well-documented, the revelation that Fields will count $8 million against the 2026 cap while serving as Patrick Mahomes’ backup in Kansas City underscores the lingering cost of past decisions. Compounding the optics, the Jets will pay Geno Smith $3.3 million to lead an offense still searching for stability. Smith, whose 2025 season with the Las Vegas Raiders ended disastrously, returns to the franchise that drafted him, tasked with bridging the gap until the front office can target a quarterback of the future—most likely in the heralded 2027 draft class. Head coach Aaron Glenn, now in his second season, has been aggressive in free agency as he attempts to reverse a decade-long spiral. Yet league insiders caution that the roster’s ceiling remains low, and ownership’s patience could wane quickly if early-season losses pile up. For a fan base that has endured serial disappointments, the arithmetic is stark: nearly one-sixth of this year’s spending power is tethered to players wearing different helmets, leaving Glenn with limited flexibility to accelerate the rebuild. Jets officials have not commented on the cap allocation, but the numbers illustrate the uphill climb facing an organization still trying to escape football purgatory.

Beaver Stadium, best known as the thunderous home of Penn State football, briefly traded cleats for blades as defenseman Jackson Smith glided across a temporary rink for the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten showdown with Michigan State. The outdoor setting provided a dramatic backdrop for Smith, whose steady presence on the blue line has been one of the few constants during a roller-coaster season that now leads the Lions straight into the NCAA Tournament. Smith and his teammates are set to face No. 2 seed Minnesota-Duluth at Albany’s MVP Arena on March 27, a single-elimination test that arrives with little margin for error. The matchup marks the first meeting between the programs and Penn State’s third NCAA appearance in four years, but the Lions carry scant momentum after going 3-7-2 down the stretch and failing to record a victory over a ranked opponent in that span. Center Reese Laubach recently acknowledged the team’s fragile psyche, saying players were “starting to check out” after a lopsided loss to Wisconsin. Yet Laubach also reminded observers that the current roster “is light years ahead” of last year’s Frozen Four squad, urging a return to selfless, team-first play. Injuries have ravaged the lineup since January, though the return of star center Charlie Cerrato for the final three games offered a late boost. Now healthy and refreshed after a two-week hiatus, Penn State will need every healthy body—including Smith’s reliable defense—to slow a Bulldogs attack led by the Plante brothers. Max Plante ranks fifth nationally with 49 points, while Zam Plante sits 11th with 46. The Albany Regional shapes up as a minefield, featuring No. 1 overall seed Michigan and AHA champion Bentley. With Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin also securing bids, the Big Ten has placed four teams in the field, underscoring the conference’s depth and the challenge that awaits Smith and the Lions if they hope to return to the Frozen Four. Penn State and Minnesota-Duluth drop the puck at 9 p.m. ET, their first-ever meeting, with a berth in college hockey’s final four hanging in the balance.

Los Angeles—The 2028 Summer Games will mark flag football’s Olympic debut on American soil, and a familiar face from Sundays past wants in on the history. Robert Griffin III, the 2011 Heisman Trophy winner and eight-year NFL veteran, announced Saturday that he will pursue a roster spot with the United States national team. “Proud and Honored to announce that I will be going for Gold in Flag Football with the USA National Team in 2028,” Griffin posted on X. “The journey starts now and there is no greater honor than wearing USA across your chest and representing something more than yourself. USA! USA! USA!” The declaration lands amid a weekend of flag-football fanfare in Los Angeles. At BMO Stadium, the Fanatics Flag Football Classic pitted NFL luminaries—Tom Brady, Rob Gronkowski, Stefon Diggs, DeAndre Hopkins, Odell Beckham Jr., Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley and Von Miller—against a cohesive U.S. men’s national squad. The national side rolled to a 43-16 victory, underscoring the gap between all-star collections and a unit trained specifically for the five-on-five, non-contact discipline. Griffin, 34, has not played in the NFL since 2020 but has stayed close to the game through podcasting and analyst work for Fox Sports. He noted earlier this month that any hopeful Olympian must be “entrenched” in flag football’s unique rhythm for the next two years to reach elite form by 2028. While Brady flashed vintage precision—hooking up with Diggs for a touchdown and watching Gronkowski convert a two-pointer—the seven-time Super Bowl champion dampened speculation that he might suit up for Los Angeles, telling Good Morning America he is content in retirement and with his duties as a Fox broadcaster and Raiders minority owner. Griffin’s résumé includes 9,271 passing yards and 43 touchdowns across Washington, Cleveland and Baltimore stops, plus 1,800 rushing yards and 10 scores. Whether that mobility translates to the flag game will be tested over the coming qualification cycles. For now, the former Baylor star has set his sights on the one accolade missing from his football life: an Olympic medal. Keywords:

Wembley, Sunday – Manchester City lifted a record-extending fifth Carabao Cup and Pep Guardiola’s 19th trophy as manager with a ruthless 2-0 dismissal of Arsenal, the story of the afternoon distilled into four second-half minutes when 19-year-old Nico O’Reilly punished a goalkeeper haunted by ghosts of finals past. The teenager, nominally starting at left-back, finished as match-winner, burying two headers in quick succession to turn a tight contest into a procession. Both finishes were born of conviction: the first, on 68 minutes, when Kepa Arrizabalaga misjudged a teasing cross from Jeremy Doku and O’Reilly attacked the loose ball; the second, four minutes later, when he ghosted in at the far post to convert Matheus Nunes’ delivery. In a stat that underlined his predatory instinct, O’Reilly’s only two touches inside the Arsenal box produced goals. For Kepa, the nightmare was familiar. The Spain international, remembered for refusing substitution in the 2019 League Cup final and for failing to stop any of Liverpool’s 11 penalties in the 2022 shoot-out, again found himself the unfortunate protagonist. After flapping at Doku’s initial centre, he was beaten to the rebound by O’Reilly; the second strike slipped beneath his despairing dive. From that moment Arsenal’s resistance evaporated. Guardiola’s side, shorn of both first-choice centre-backs, controlled every department. Rodri touched the ball 103 times, completed 14 passes into the final third and screened with imperial authority. Bernardo Silva, indefatigable, recovered possession nine times—more than any player on the pitch—while Bernardo’s compatriot Doku tormented full-back Hincapié, winning 12 duels and completing six dribbles. City’s width and relentless pressing forced Arsenal backwards; the Gunners mustered no shot of note after the 12-minute mark. Arsenal’s attacking trident barely left a footprint. Bukayo Saka, remarkably appearing in his first cup final for the club, saw an early effort tipped onto the woodwork by James Trafford but faded to extend a run of two goals in 24 games. Leandro Trossard was anonymous, Viktor Gyokeres failed to register a single attempt, and Kai Havertz, substituted after 65 minutes, never imposed himself. Behind them Declan Rice, so often the heartbeat, was subdued, attempting only 23 accurate passes as City’s midfield monopolised the ball. Defensively the Gunners were stretched. Centre-back William Saliba stuck doggedly to Erling Haaland yet received scant protection; left-sided Hincapie, booked before half-time, was repeatedly isolated against Doku and Semenyo, and both goals originated down his channel. Ben White, diligent in his own box, could not provide the customary attacking overlap, stifled by City’s disciplined set-piece defence. City’s collective maturity contrasted sharply with Arsenal’s stage-fright. Manuel Akanji led by example, winning every aerial duel, while stand-in full-back Sergio Gomez offered width and security, registering nine recoveries and six duels won. Between the posts Trafford enjoyed relative calm after early heroics, parrying efforts from Saka and Calafiori when the game was still in the balance. The victory continues City’s domestic cup dominance and leaves Arsenal to reflect on a fourth consecutive defeat in major finals. For O’Reilly, the night belonged to him alone: a local product announcing himself on the national stage with the coolness of a seasoned striker rather than a makeshift defender. Guardiola hailed another milestone; Arsenal, meanwhile, depart Wembley with questions louder than the answers provided across a chastening 90 minutes.

Philadelphia—When the Eagles drafted Kelee Ringo in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, the organization believed it had secured a long, fast corner with championship pedigree fresh off two College Football Playoff titles at Georgia. Ringo immediately validated part of that projection by becoming a core special-teamer, the kind of versatile piece Philadelphia’s coaching staff has traditionally prized. Nearly two years later, however, his path to meaningful defensive snaps—and perhaps even a roster spot—has narrowed dramatically. The first warning signs surfaced last offseason. With Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers out of the picture, Ringo was penciled in to battle veteran Adoree’ Jackson for a starting outside job. Both competitors sputtered during training camp and the preseason, yet Jackson stabilized enough to earn the coaching staff’s trust. Ringo, meanwhile, never seized the moment, and the anticipated leap in coverage skills never materialized. If that missed opportunity felt like a temporary setback, the current depth chart suggests a more permanent problem. Second-year corners Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean have entrenched themselves as foundational pieces, while nickel defender Michael Carter II signed an extension this spring. The front office further fortified the room by adding veteran Riq Woolen, acquiring Jonathan Jones via trade, and drafting UCF’s Mac McWilliams—each move pushing Ringo another spot down the ladder. Roster construction math only compounds the pressure. NFL teams typically keep six cornerbacks on the 53-man roster; the Eagles have carried seven before, but that exception is hardly guaranteed. With at least eight players now vying for those chairs, every rep in OTAs and August practices becomes an audition for survival. Ringo’s special-teams résumé keeps him in the conversation, yet coverage units alone rarely justify a roster spot when the defensive staff questions a corner’s ability to hold up on Sundays. In short, Ringo’s battle has shifted. The goal is no longer unseating a starter; it is simply remaining in midnight green. The writing, as they say, is on the wall.

Miami Gardens, FL — The Miami Dolphins’ off-season has been defined by subtraction, not addition. Yet when the team finally did add a player this week, the headline-grabbing number attached to the move—$20.9 million—had nothing to do with the contract he just signed. On the opening week of NFL free agency, the Dolphins agreed to terms with veteran punter Bradley Pinion on a one-year, $1.2 million deal containing zero guaranteed money. The 31-year-old’s career cash haul now sits at $20.9 million after 11 seasons with San Francisco, Tampa Bay and Atlanta, according to salary-tracking site Spotrac. That cumulative figure, not the modest new pact, is what ricocheted across social media once the signing became public. Pinion arrives as a roster placeholder on a franchise conducting the most dramatic teardown in recent league history. Miami already absorbed a record $99.2 million dead-money charge by releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, part of a broader purge that will leave the team carrying more than $165 million in cap obligations for players no longer on the roster by 2026. The moves cleared the way for an extensive rebuild that has seen the Dolphins make more than 25 low-cost free-agent signings, almost all on one- or two-year contracts designed to keep 2027 books clean. The punter swap amounts to a specialist exchange between Miami and Atlanta. Jake Bailey, the Dolphins’ punter the past three seasons, signed a three-year deal with the Falcons, following former Miami special-teams coordinator Craig Aukerman to Atlanta. Pinion, who spent the last four seasons with the Falcons, now heads south to compete with undrafted free agent Seth Vernon for the starting job. Every specialist spot is unsettled: kicker Jason Sanders was released, and Riley Patterson and Zane Gonzalez are battling for place-kicking duties, while Tucker Addington projects as the long-snapper. Pinion’s 2025 numbers with Atlanta—45.1-yard gross average, 53.1 percent of punts downed inside the 20—were solid if unspectacular. More important to Miami’s front office, his market value fit a strict budget. The $1.2 million base salary is the league minimum for a player of his experience and creates no dead money if he is cut before Week 1. In a year when the Dolphins are spending over half of the $301.2 million salary-cap ceiling on ghosts of rosters past, the punter’s contract barely registers. The headline-grabbing $20.9 million figure merely reflects the sum of Pinion’s previous earnings, including the three-year, $8.6 million contract he completed with the Falcons. It is not a reflection of future guarantees, nor does it alter the financial landscape for a club already navigating uncharted cap waters. The deal that truly altered the league’s economic conversation this off-season was Tagovailoa’s record-setting dead charge, eclipsing the $85 million Denver once absorbed for Russell Wilson. For Miami, the objective is simple: fill a specialist vacancy at minimal cost, avoid a training-camp distraction, and preserve every possible dollar for the 2027 spending spree once the dead money evaporates. Pinion, Super Bowl champion with Tampa Bay in 2020, understands his role. He will compete in camp, provide veteran stability if he wins the job, and depart without cap ramifications if he does not. The Dolphins’ rebuild is far from finished. The front office has stockpiled short-term fliers while scouting the 2027 college crop and future free-agent classes. Pinion is one of many placeholders, a procedural signing in a roster overhaul that has already become a cautionary tale across the league. In Miami, the story is the teardown, the record dead-money figure, and the long road back to contention—not the punter signed for a rounding error.

Former Syracuse quarterback Rex Culpepper, whose on-field toughness was matched by a widely publicized victory over cancer, has died at 28. Culpepper, who played for the Orange from 2016 to 2020, passed away following a crash, according to initial reports. The former signal-caller’s athletic journey was defined as much by resilience as by statistics: after a testicular-cancer diagnosis sidelined him in 2018, he returned to the program and completed his collegiate career, embodying the spirit of perseverance that teammates and coaches frequently praised. Though details surrounding the crash remain limited, university officials confirmed Culpepper’s death Sunday. He finished his Syracuse tenure having appeared in 18 games, leaving an imprint on the program that extended beyond the box score. Culpepper’s post-cancer comeback became a rallying narrative for both the team and its fan base, illustrating an athlete’s refusal to surrender to circumstances off the field. His passing marks a somber close to a life already marked by extraordinary challenges and public triumph. Syracuse has not yet announced memorial plans.

STORRS — March in Connecticut has always belonged to UConn basketball, but this year the Huskies are commanding the spotlight long before the opening tip. From I-91 billboards to prime-time commercials, the men’s and women’s programs have turned the state into a living storyboard for name-image-likeness deals that few universities can match. Since Selection Sunday, television audiences have seen Solo Ball calm a taxpayer’s nerves for TurboTax, Geno Auriemma diagram breakfast plays for a hotel chain, and guards KK Arnold and Silas Demary Jr. coax viewers into a new Nissan Pathfinder. Sarah Strong and Malachi Smith appear as good-neighbor agents for State Farm, while Azzi Fudd’s Geico spots remind fans that even aliens would feel at home with the Huskies’ marketing reach. “Everybody in America knows our starting five,” Auriemma said. “We have more sponsorships and NIL opportunities with Fortune 500 companies than anyone else in the country, men or women.” The ads are more than 30-second cameos. A January shoot for Ball’s TurboTax spot filled Gampel Pavilion with 100 student extras for 14 hours. Invesco QQQ turned the program’s new volleyball arena—once the old hockey rink—into a three-court production lot for 18 hours across three days, complete with a live goat cameo from the Yard Goats staff. Nissan filmed Arnold and Demary cruising through February snow on campus; State Farm’s “Stanchion to Stanchion” series demanded half-court makes from Strong (on the first take, teammates swear) and Smith. Behind the scenes, UConn’s NIL office, Learfield’s production crews, and third-party broker CampusOne coordinate everything from location access to post-production. An Overtime-branded content studio is now under construction inside Gampel, promising even faster turnaround between buzzer-beaters and brand rollouts. “They’re naturals behind the camera,” said Dominic Godi, UConn’s associate AD for strategic initiatives. “The bigger the stage, the higher the NIL value climbs, and that momentum feeds future deals.” While the Huskies chase banners, another Connecticut team will open its season under far heavier hearts. Hall-West Hartford boys lacrosse takes the field April 4 without senior Camden Siegal, who died two days after being shot outside PeoplesBank Arena on Feb. 22. Siegal, a midfielder and two-sport athlete, will serve as honorary captain; the team will wear No. 23 decals and warmup shirts bearing his name. The opening game will feature 23 seconds of silence and a memorial fund to support local academic and sports scholarships. Quick hits from around the state: Jada Habisch, one of UConn women’s hockey’s all-time leading scorers, has debuted with Seattle in the PWHL; lefty reliever Josh Simpson, traded from Miami to Seattle, could surface in the Mariners’ bullpen this summer; slugging outfield prospect Max Belyeu, the 2025 second-round pick and former Big 12 Player of the Year, is headed to Double-A Hartford; and Jim Calhoun insists European kids shoot better because they learn on eight-foot rims, not 10. As the NCAA Tournament tips off, UConn’s players already look like seasoned pitchmen—ready to sell victories and Volkswagens in equal measure.

Chula Vista, Calif. — Darrell Green, the 66-year-old Washington icon and first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback, is chasing one more chapter in football, this time on the flag gridiron. While the Fanatics Flag Football Classic spotlight shone on Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels this weekend, Green was quietly running routes and defensive drills alongside roughly 100 hopefuls vying for a place on Team USA’s flag football roster. Green’s path began with a digital combine that caught the attention of USA Football evaluators. “Darrell qualified through our digital combine. He’s later in his career than the other trials participants, but his testing results were impressive,” said Callie Brownson, senior director of high performance and national teams for USA Football. “Our coaches and staff felt he deserved a closer look… He’s a rare athlete who has stayed in shape and is ready to compete this week.” The immediate objective is an invitation to April’s training camp and, ultimately, selection to the 2026 national squad that will compete at the world championships. A berth there would position Green for a shot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where flag football will make its Olympic debut. Green has never been conventional. Toward the end of his 20-year NFL career, he clocked a 4.2-second 40-yard dash at age 40. Taken in the first round of the 1983 draft by Washington, he spent every season of his two-decade career with the franchise, earning seven Pro Bowl nods, three first-team All-Pro selections, second-team All-Pro honors once, placement on the 1990s All-Decade Team, and a spot on the NFL 100th Anniversary Team. The Commanders officially retired his No. 28 jersey during the 2024 season, a number no player had worn since his 2002 retirement. “I’m going to give it my best, and I’ll walk away with my head up, either way,” Green said on the USA Football Instagram page. For now, the legend who once terrorized NFC receivers hopes to trade burgundy and gold for red, white, and blue, proving that speed, at least in his case, truly has no age limit.

Tyson Fury swears this comeback was never part of the script. Three weeks before he walks into the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to face Arslanbek Makhmudov on 11 April, the former two-time heavyweight world champion says a family Christmas holiday in Thailand snowballed into a full-scale training camp and, ultimately, another blockbuster night under the lights. “I had zero intentions of making a comeback when I came here in December,” Fury told Sky Sports from his Thai base. “None. I was happily retired.” The 36-year-old had announced he was finished with boxing after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. While travelling with his family, the warm weather and an impromptu training schedule rekindled old urges. “The sunshine brought me back,” he said. “One thing led to another and next thing I’ve signed a massive contract.” The result is a headline showdown with Russia’s Makhmudov, a similarly seasoned puncher who, like Fury, has suffered recent losses yet carries 20-plus knockouts on his ledger. “We’re similar age, similar size, similar weight, similar record,” Fury noted. “He was No 2 in the rankings when I held the WBC belt. Now we’re actually doing it.” Fury last fought in the UK four years ago and admits the lure of a football-stadium atmosphere proved irresistible. “There’s nothing like a UK football stadium to get you going,” he said. “I’m looking forward to soaking up that atmosphere again.” Despite billing the return as a spur-of-the-moment decision, Fury is characteristically confident about the outcome. “Makhmudov’s in some serious bother,” he warned. “He’s in trouble.” The bout will mark Fury’s first fight since his second loss to Usyk and his first appearance on home soil since 2021, setting the stage for another dramatic chapter in a career that has repeatedly flirted with finality only to be revived by the roar of a crowd. SEO keywords:

By Jacob Whitehead Michael Carrick stood on the Vitality Stadium touchline on Saturday evening trying to reconcile two penalty-box grapples that looked the same, sounded the same and, according to the laws of the game, were the same. One brought a spot-kick and a 1-0 lead; the other brought only a wave-away and, 13 seconds later, a Bournemouth equaliser. Manchester United left Dorset with a 2-2 draw and a dossier of grievances already dispatched to PGMOL. The flash-point sequence began just past the hour. Matheus Cunha cut inside Alex Jimenez, felt a two-handed tug on his shirt and hit the turf. Referee Stuart Attwell pointed to the spot; Bruno Fernandes converted. Six minutes later Amad, darting in from the opposite flank, was seized by Adrien Truffert in an almost carbon-copy hold. Attwell said play on. United’s bench erupted; within a breath Ryan Christie levelled. Carrick, normally reluctant to rail against officials, could not hide his bemusement. “You get one, you must get the other,” he told Sky Sports. “It’s pretty much identical, two-hand grab — so either way, he’s got one wrong. To give one and not give the other… I just can’t get my head around it. It’s crazy.” The interim United boss was equally accepting of the decision to send off Harry Maguire for a professional foul on Evanilson late on, acknowledging the defender had denied a clear scoring opportunity. Yet the symmetry of Maguire escaping censure for an earlier shove on the same striker — one of four major incidents Attwell allowed to stand without VAR intervention — underlined the inconsistency Carrick believes is warping matches. United’s complaint to the refereeing body centres on that scatter-pattern of calls. In the 24th minute Maguire nudged Evanilson in the back as he shaped to shoot; no penalty. After 78 minutes the roles were reversed, Evanilson tumbled again, and this time Attwell did point to the spot. Between those moments came Cunha’s award and Amad’s denial. All four, slowed to a freeze-frame, carry the textbook characteristics of a foul. PGMOL’s silence has only amplified the noise. Unlike rugby union, where referee-TMO exchanges are broadcast, football offers no window into the process. Viewers were left to guess why Truffert’s more forceful grip was judged less punishable than Jimenez’s, or why the VAR, Michael Salisbury, never asked Attwell to re-screen either incident. The league’s pride in having Europe’s lowest VAR intervention rate offers a partial answer: officials are under renewed instruction to let the on-field call stand unless a “clear and obvious” blunder stares them in the face. But the phrase itself is elastic, and the grey area is widening. Pulling an attacker’s shirt is routinely labelled “soft” until the moment it is penalised; at set-pieces identical wrestling matches are ignored almost by tradition. Add the summer mandate to speed up play and the VAR becomes reluctant to muddy already turbulent waters. The result is a sport trapped between two irreconcilable ambitions: absolute consistency and respect for the referee’s autonomy. Cricket can achieve the former because its decisions are binary — in or out, caught or not caught. Football’s laws are interpretative, and even PGMOL’s five-man key-match-incidents panel regularly splits 3-2 on whether an overturn was required. United’s selective video edits — omitting Evanilson’s first tumble while highlighting Amad’s — and Bournemouth’s mirror-image cherry-picking illustrate another truth: every club calibrates memory to its own grievance. Yet Carrick’s broader point survives the spin cycle. When identical offences produce opposite outcomes inside the same match, the product risks looking arbitrary.

Madrid, Spain – Real Madrid believe disciplinary action from UEFA against FC Barcelona in the long-running Negreira case is now a realistic prospect, sources familiar with the club’s thinking have told journalist Jesús Bengoechea, raising the possibility of a Champions League ban and severe financial fallout for the Catalan giants. The case centres on payments totalling more than €7 million made between 2001 and 2018 by Barcelona to companies linked to José María Enríquez Negreira, then vice-president of Spain’s referees committee. Prosecutors contend the arrangement may constitute sporting corruption, arguing the money was designed to secure favourable refereeing treatment. Barcelona have repeatedly denied wrongdoing, maintaining the fees were for technical reports on match officials. UEFA opened a disciplinary file when the scandal surfaced but suspended proceedings while Spanish courts took the investigative lead. That pause is nearing its end, according to Bengoechea, who says witness testimony in Spain is almost complete and UEFA is poised to re-engage. “UEFA declared itself competent in the case when it first emerged,” he noted. “From a legal point of view that step is extremely important.” Inside Real Madrid, optimism has grown that European football’s governing body will act. Club officials are preparing formal submissions to both UEFA and FIFA setting out their concerns, though under sports administrative law they cannot request a specific penalty. “Sanctions are discretionary and it is the governing bodies that decide,” Bengoechea explained. Should UEFA proceed, the most probable punishment is exclusion from the Champions League, with the duration ranging from a single season to a maximum of ten. A one-year ban beginning next season is viewed as the starting point, but a multi-year suspension has not been ruled out. Such a scenario would deprive Barcelona of substantial revenues from prize money, broadcast rights and commercial bonuses tied to Europe’s elite competition. Sponsorship contracts often contain Champions League participation clauses, meaning income could fall further, while elite players may reconsider their futures at a club absent from the continent’s premier tournament. “A ban of four or five years from the Champions League would be a financial catastrophe for Barcelona,” Bengoechea said, highlighting the wider economic and sporting ramifications. The impending conclusion of the Spanish court’s witness phase is seen as the trigger for UEFA’s next move. Several Barcelona presidents have acknowledged the payments in testimony, while former coaches, including Luis Enrique and Ernesto Valverde, have reportedly stated they never received the refereeing analyses the fees were meant to fund. These admissions, Bengoechea argues, are pivotal from a sports-law perspective. For months, scepticism prevailed that the scandal would yield meaningful consequences. That mood has shifted inside the Bernabéu. “I had already fallen into pessimism and thought nothing would happen,” Bengoechea admitted. “But the latest information I am hearing from inside the club makes it seem there is now a very high probability that sanctions will arrive.” Any UEFA decision to sanction Barcelona would reverberate well beyond Spain, setting a precedent for how sporting governance bodies address allegations of refereeing-related corruption and reshaping the competitive landscape of European club football.

Minneapolis — With the NFL Draft still five weeks out, the Minnesota Vikings are carrying more urgency into late April than most 8-9 clubs. An offseason that began with the dismissal of general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has left the franchise’s long-term roster plan in the hands of an interim front office, a respected but green decision-making structure, and a coaching staff that knows the window to contend is narrowing faster than the salary-cap spreadsheet says it should. Team president Mark Wilf did not mince words when he announced Adofo-Mensah’s exit on Jan. 30: the Vikings must “re-establish the draft as the lifeblood of the roster.” The numbers explain why. From 2022-25, no club harvested fewer approximate-value points above historical expectation than Minnesota, according to Pro Football Reference’s AV-over-expectation model. Two first-round defenders — safety Lewis Cine and cornerback Andrew Booth — have combined for virtually no return. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy, selected 10th overall last April, has logged only four AV; Bo Nix, taken two slots later, already sits at 26. Fourth-round cornerback Khyree Jackson’s tragic death last summer only added to the ledger of misfortune. The result is a roster that has papered over draft shortcomings with selective free-agency strikes. Signing Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman in 2026 jump-started a defense that helped Minnesota stay in playoff contention until Week 17. Sam Darnold’s $10 million deal stabilized the quarterback room while McCarthy red-shirted. Yet the front office cognoscenti inside TCO Performance Center understand the ceiling of that approach. Free agents arrive older, costlier and without the developmental upside that fills out the back half of every 53-man roster. “Draft-and-develop” is not sloganeering in the NFC North; it is survival. Survival, however, now rests with an unfamiliar cast. Salary-cap architect Rob Brzezinski will run the draft room for the first time in his two-decade tenure. Co-assistant GMs Ryan Grigson and Demetrius Washington will anchor scouting, but head coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores are expected to wield unusual influence — Flores especially after the franchise doubled down on his vision with a January extension. The coach already reshaped the defensive depth chart this month, parting with high-priced interior linemen Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, two 2026 additions whose scheme fit and locker-room chemistry never matched their paychecks. Flores’ preferences figure to steer a four-pick top-100 haul that currently sits at No. 18 overall, 50th, 81st and 98th. Minnesota does not own a fourth-round choice but holds a fifth, sixth and three sevenths. League sources believe the Vikings will lean defense early, targeting an interior lineman or hybrid safety who can execute the multiplicity Flores demands. Cornerback is also in play after the team met with San Diego State’s Chris Johnson (6-0, 193, 4.43 speed) at his pro day and again on a Top-30 visit. Offensive line help could arrive on Day 2; Clemson’s Tristan Leigh has already been in for a private workout, and Oregon’s Alex Harkey followed his pro-day performance with a one-on-one session in Floweryer. Skill-position meetings have raised eyebrows. Georgia State’s big-bodied WR Ted Hurst and Penn State RB Kaytron Allen were both formally interviewed at the combine, fueling speculation that Tai Felton’s readiness as WR3 is not yet trusted. Running back looks like a late-round flier at best after formal interviews with Nebraska’s Emmett Johson and North Carolina Central’s Chris Mosley. Inside the building, decision-makers insist the board remains fluid. Brzezinski has spent March gathering intel from agents and rival executives; Grigson leans on five years of experience as Indianapolis’ GM; Washington overlays an analytics model borrowed from their shared San Francisco roots. Yet the tiebreaker may ultimately belong to Flores, who began his NFL climb as a Patriots scout and still calls personnel work his “favorite part of the job.” Expect Minnesota’s first three selections to carry his fingerprints — high-motor front-seven pieces and three-down linebackers who can blitz, traits reflected in visits with Gracen Halton and Anthony Hill Jr. The stakes are obvious. Harrison Smith, if he returns, will be 37. Aaron Jones turns 32. Eight other projected 2027 starters are already 30 or older. The Vikings can’t buy their next nucleus; they must draft it. Whether an interim GM, a reshuffled scouting department and an ascendant defensive coordinator can reverse four years of draft-day decline will determine whether 2026’s near-miss was a speed bump or the start of a free fall. SEO keywords:

By Matt Slater | The Athletic UK Birmingham — Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Premier League and the English Football Association are at war again. The latest skirmish over club-versus-country rights arrives at a delicate moment: England sit inside FIFA’s top five, Thomas Tuchel’s side are second-favourites in most World Cup markets, and 16-year-old Max Dowman has just become the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer. All of which suggests the production line is humming. Yet the numbers tell a different story. Of the 296 starters and substitutes who featured on the most recent Premier League weekend, only 82 (28 per cent) are eligible for England. The share of minutes banked by England-qualified players (EQPs) is even lower: just under 26 per cent. Tuchel’s first squad since taking charge contained 35 names but still omitted Trent Alexander-Arnold and six others who would have strolled into previous eras. The manager has also been forced to call three goalkeepers who, between them, have started only 12 league matches this season. So how many players does a country actually need to win a World Cup? Argentina used 23 in Qatar. Tuchel can currently pick five EQPs who play Champions League minutes every week and a scattering of dual-nationals who might have worn the Three Lions had the FA courted them earlier. The Premier League, when pressed, cites those facts and argues that 30 years of foreign imports have raised technical standards to the point where any regular starter — English or not — is operating at or near international level. The stand-off matters because the FA controls the post-Brexit work-permit system. In 2023 it granted clubs an “elite significant contribution” (ESC) loophole: four foreign teenagers per season for top-tier sides, two for League One and Two, even if the players fall short of the points-based threshold. Hidden in the small print is a trigger: if EQP minutes drop below 25 per cent in any division, the FA can scrap the ESC route overnight. With the Premier League hovering just above that line, the governing body has begun brandishing the clause. That threat framed last month’s EFL conference at The Belfry, where officials from the FA, Premier League and EFL tried to sell a compromise. The proposal would allow Premier League academies to send youngsters on short “development loans” outside the traditional window-to-window rules, and add two extra group games to the EFL Trophy featuring Under-21 sides. In return, the Professional Game Youth Fund would receive an extra £16 million over three years — roughly £175-200 k per academy depending on category. Many EFL chairmen balked. They do not want more fixtures against youth teams that fans refuse to watch, and they fear another wave of Premier League loanees will crowd out their own academy graduates. Some asked why their access to foreign talent should be jeopardised because top-flight clubs stockpile overseas players, then demand lower-division sides solve the minutes problem for them. The loan plan is now on hold, but the broader financial fight shows no sign of ending. The EFL wants the Premier League to pool broadcast revenues and split them 75-25, scrapping parachute payments that currently give relegated clubs a trampoline back to the top flight. The Premier League, while insisting its “door is always open”, will restart talks only if the EFL drops the parachute issue and accepts a 4:1 merit rake in the Championship. The EFL has countered with a 2:1 rake across both leagues to soften the promotion-relegation cliff edge. Negotiations remain stalled. Enter the independent football regulator, legally able to impose a settlement yet publicly reluctant to do so. Chair David Kogan reiterated at the recent Financial Times Business of Football summit that he would rather the game govern itself. Whether the parties can find common ground before legislation forces one upon them is the multibillion-pound question. In the meantime, Tuchel must prepare for a summer World Cup with a talent pool that looks deep at first glance but shallow once minutes, form and fitness are examined. The answer to how many players you need to win a tournament is, in theory, 23. In practice, England may discover that the real number is however many can get on the pitch in the Premier League between now and kick-off in the United States.

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Los Angeles — The roar inside the Fanatics Flag Football Classic on Saturday was supposed to celebrate the sport’s Olympic arrival in 2028. Instead, it became a ninety-minute warning siren to any NFL star eyeing a roster spot: the road to Los Angeles runs through the current kings of the flag game, and they are not surrendering their crowns. Team USA, the reigning IFAF Flag Football World champion, treated two star-studded NFL sides like walk-ons, piling up 125 points on the afternoon while allowing only 44. The rout began with a 39-14 demolition of the Wildcats—quarterbacked by Joe Burrow and Jayden Daniels—and peaked with a 43-16 humbling of Tom Brady’s Founders. A mercy rule was openly discussed on the FOX broadcast as Team USA reeled off 24 unanswered points in the first half against Brady’s squad. The NFL’s learning curve was steep. Hall-of-Fame-bound linebacker Luke Kuechly, lured out of retirement, was flagged twice in the opening half. Across both games, the Wildcats and Founders combined for seven penalties while struggling to corral flags from USA’s elusive ball carriers. “These guys might not be 6-4,” analyst Greg Olsen noted, “but they’re faster, shiftier, and they understand angles in a way the NFL guys simply don’t yet.” Speed, agility and spatial awareness—cornerstones of elite flag football—were on full display from Darrell Doucette III, who punctuated his pre-tournament claim of superiority over Patrick Mahomes by accounting for six touchdowns and claiming Classic MVP honors. Team USA scored on 14 of its 15 drives, a conversion rate that underscored the gulf in specialization. Not every NFL entrant left without highlights. Saquon Barkley’s two scores showcased burst and vision; DeVonta Smith and Odell Beckham Jr. combined for five touchdown receptions. Yet even the Wildcats’ moral victory—a 24-14 defeat in the championship rematch—only narrowed the gap, it did not close it. The NFL has already secured Olympic participation: each franchise may send one player, plus an international athlete if designated. Saturday’s showcase suggests those invitations should come with an asterisk—roster spots must be earned, not gifted. As Brady, summing up the Founders’ 43-16 loss, admitted on air, “My heart is hurting right now.” For Doucette and his teammates, the heartache belongs to the challengers. They have spent years refining the nuances of flag pulls, route angles and two-way stamina. Their message after the Fanatics Classic was unmistakable: if the Olympics are about putting the best possible product on the field, the best product already wears red, white and blue. Keywords:

LOS ANGELES — In a commanding performance, Flag Football-Team USA overpowered a squad of NFL standouts to capture the Flag Football Classic title on Sunday night at Exposition Park. From the opening snap, the national side dictated tempo with crisp route-running and opportunistic defense, building an early lead that the NFL crew never threatened. The victory caps a showcase event designed to spotlight flag football’s surging popularity ahead of its Olympic debut in 2028, and it sends a clear message about the depth of elite talent already embedded within the American program. Team USA, composed of specialists who compete year-round in international circuits, converted two first-half takeaways into quick scores, then protected the advantage with clock-chewing drives that kept the NFL offense on the sideline. The professional players—many of whom are Pro Bowl-caliber athletes experiencing flag rules for the first time—struggled to adjust to the faster pace and two-hand touch tackling, allowing gaps to widen as the second half progressed. Fans packed the temporary grandstands lining the field, creating a festival atmosphere complete with youth clinics and music interludes between quarters. The event, jointly staged by the city’s tourism board and USA Football, drew a capacity crowd and trended nationally on social media throughout the evening. With the win, Flag Football-Team USA reclaims bragging rights in the annual exhibition and reinforces its status as the team to beat on the global stage.

Seattle—In a quiet but telling scene moments after Washington’s season-ending victory at Purdue, outgoing left tackle Carver Willis and head coach Jedd Fisch met near the 40-yard line, shook hands, and held the clasp long enough for photographers to capture the image. Place-kicker Grady Gross, helmet in hand, stood a few steps away, taking in the exchange that signaled both closure and continuity for a program in transition. Willis, who started ten games at left tackle in 2025 and missed only three after an MCL sprain against Ohio State, had just finished his Husky career the same way he played it—up front and unfiltered. “You’ve got four starters returning with your No. 6 offensive guy on the O-line,” he told reporters earlier in the week, referencing redshirt freshman guard Champ Taulealea. “What more can you ask for?” The 6-foot-6, 305-pound senior used Pro Day inside Dempsey Indoor to size up the unit he leaves behind. Junior quarterback Demond Williams Jr., every-game starter and “ridiculous” in Willis’s estimation, will operate behind an experienced front that includes 30-game starter Drew Azzopardi at right tackle, 15-game center Landen Hatchett—still in a protective sleeve after wrist surgery—and Hatchett’s brother Geirean, the only UW lineman to open all 13 contests in 2025. Sophomore left guard John Mills, already drawing All-American buzz, rounds out the group. “Put a blindfold on and point and pick your favorite player and they’re going to have a great year,” Willis said, laughing that his own ACL remained intact while his MCL did not. “Now if I had torn like my ACL against Ohio State, you would have five-for-five returning.” The handshake with Fisch, caught beneath the gray West Lafayette sky, served as Willis’s final on-field act in purple and gold. Gross, whose kicking helped secure the road win, lingered nearby, a reminder that while the lineman departs, the Huskies’ core remains stocked for 2026. Washington, 9-4 on the year, will indeed return “just about everyone” along the offensive front. Willis, meanwhile, will be sending postcards from the NFL, keeping that ACL untouched and the memory of one last handshake firmly in frame. SEO keywords:

Auburn, Ala. — The Tigers may be inching closer to securing their quarterback of the future, as four-star signal-caller Isreal Izzy Abrams offered a brief glimpse into his recent visit to the Plains. While Abrams stopped short of announcing a commitment or revealing a timeline, his comments after the trip suggest Auburn remains firmly in the mix for his signature. Could Auburn football be closing in on its quarterback of the future? Here's what Izzy Abrams had to say about his time on the Plains. With recruiting analysts tracking every move, the next chapter in Abrams’ decision-making process will be watched closely by both Auburn fans and rival programs vying for the elite quarterback’s pledge.

Stillwater, Okla.—Oklahoma State’s football program, mired in a 19-game Big 12 losing streak and coming off back-to-back winless conference campaigns in 2024 and 2025, has acquired the country’s most productive quarterback. Drew Mestemaker, who led the nation in passing last fall at North Texas, will suit up for the Cowboys in 2026 after following new head coach Eric Morris from Denton to Stillwater. ESPN’s Billy Tucker tagged Mestemaker as OSU’s premier newcomer for the upcoming season, projecting “prolific offensive numbers” if the Cowboys solidify pass protection and add complementary weapons. Tucker cautioned that the step up to Big 12 defenses will bring “tougher pass rushes and tighter windows,” forecasting early growing pains but predicting a “high-scoring, efficient attack that improves as the supporting cast comes together.” Morris, hired in the wake of two disappointing seasons, brings a system historically kind to quarterbacks when tempo and clean pockets align. The hope in Stillwater is that Mestemaker’s arrival signals an immediate end to the stagnant offense that replaced the once-explosive days of the Mike Gundy era. While wins aren’t guaranteed, expectations are that the Cowboys will “outscore teams in 2026,” with Mestemaker serving as the catalyst behind the rebound. Since Mason Rudolph departed for the NFL, OSU has cycled through middling quarterback play; Mestemaker’s arm offers the most promise yet to reignite the passing game inside Boone Pickens Stadium.

Columbia, Mo. — Patrick Murphy’s ejection in the top of the seventh inning provided a jolt of drama, but it could not propel sixth-ranked Alabama to a comeback as the Crimson Tide dropped a 5-2 decision to Missouri on Saturday afternoon at Mizzou Softball Stadium. Murphy was tossed after vehemently arguing a called third strike on Alabama’s home-run leader Brooke Wells that appeared well below the knees. The ejection seemed to awaken the offense: the Tide loaded the bases and brought the winning run to the plate, only to come up empty. Alexis Pupillo grounded to the right side for an infield single that kept the rally alive, but freshman Ana Roman’s line drive to shortstop ended the threat and the game. For the second straight contest, solo home runs accounted for all of Alabama’s scoring. Audrey Vandagriff opened the game with a lead-off blast, and Pupillo followed two batters later with her 11th long ball of the season to stake the Tide to a 2-0 advantage after one inning. The offense then went silent, finishing 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position in the series. Freshman starter Vic Moten cruised through the first two frames before running into trouble in the third. A one-out single, hit-by-pitch, and Moten’s own error on a comebacker allowed Missouri to plate its first run. Sophie Smith’s ground-rule double moments later cleared the bases and gave the Tigers a 3-2 lead they would not relinquish. Stefiana Abruscato added insurance with a two-out solo shot in the fourth. Moten exited after four innings. Classmate Kaitlyn Pallozzi surrendered a run in the sixth to push the margin to 5-2, where it remained. The loss is just Alabama’s second of the year (28-2, 6-2 SEC) and comes against a Missouri squad that entered the weekend winless in league play (15-17, 1-4 SEC). The teams close the series Sunday at noon.

Midwest top seed Michigan dominated from tip-off, routing Saint Louis 95-72 in a commanding performance highlighted by Lendeborg’s game-high 25 points. The Wolverines never trailed, using a balanced offensive surge to stretch the lead past 20 in the second half and keep the Billikens at arm’s length throughout. With the victory, Michigan advances deeper into the regional bracket while Saint Louis exits the tournament.

Racing Post Sport’s resident football tipster James Milton has earmarked an 8-5 (2.60) wager from Sunday’s La Liga programme as his standout play of the day, focusing on the Camp Nou clash between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano. Barca arrive in blistering goal-scoring form, having dismantled Sevilla 5-2 and Newcastle 7-2 in their two most recent home fixtures, yet Milton believes Rayo have the credentials to keep this meeting far tighter than those blow-outs. The Madrid minnows held the Catalans to a 1-1 draw in the reverse encounter back in August and last season required a late Robert Lewandowski penalty for Barcelona to edge a 1-0 triumph on the same ground. Rayo’s survival fight has been revived by a six-match unbeaten streak, a run that includes a headline-grabbing 3-0 home rout of Atlético Madrid in February. Four of their last five league contests have finished 1-1, underlining a growing capacity to stifle higher-ranked opposition. With that context, Milton’s recommended punt is a home victory for Barcelona coupled with under 3.5 total goals, a combination that has landed in each of the past ten head-to-head meetings between the clubs. The logic is straightforward: while Sevilla and Newcastle were swept away, Rayo’s recent form, dogged defensive displays and prior results against Barca suggest the hosts are unlikely to run riot again. Evidence can also be drawn from Real Madrid’s 2-1 win over Rayo last month, sealed only by a 100th-minute penalty, which further illustrates the visitors’ ability to remain competitive against Spain’s heavyweights. At 8-5, the price implies a 38 per cent strike-rate requirement; given the historical goal trends and Rayo’s new-found resilience, Milton rates that as a value wager for Sunday’s action.

Kalamazoo, Mich. — Western Michigan University moved swiftly to secure what athletic director Dan Bartholomae calls “a rising star,” officially naming Kahil Fennell the 17th head coach of Broncos men’s basketball on Saturday morning. The 43-year-old Californian arrives from the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, where over two seasons he engineered a 35-29 turnaround that included a 19-14 campaign this winter and the Vaqueros’ first Southland Conference tournament No. 3 seed since 2018-19. Fennell’s 2024-25 squad led the league in scoring and finished fourth in defensive efficiency, bowing out in triple-overtime to eventual NCAA representative McNeese. “As we set out to find our next head coach, we sought a leader who not only had experience working with some of basketball’s finest programs and coaches, but one who had also led his own program to new heights at the Division I level,” Bartholomae said. “His vision and leadership acumen was unmatched.” The search, completed in under two weeks, comes at a pivotal moment for WMU athletics. A $500-million, 8,000-seat arena—destined to host both basketball programs and the 2025 national-champion hockey team—opens next fall, and Bartholomae emphasized the need for a coach capable of galvanizing campus and community alike. Fennell will be introduced Monday at the construction site, touring the facility for the first time hours after signing a five-year deal that starts near $400,000 and escalates to roughly $500,000 by Year 5. The agreement carries a $300,000 buyout. Fennell’s path to Division I head coach is unconventional. Barely a decade ago he was earning a lucrative living in medical-device sales before pivoting to the bench. Stops as an assistant at Portland State, UT Permian Basin, Louisville—where he helped the Cardinals to NCAA tournament berths under Chris Mack—and BYU under Mark Pope preceded his head-coaching debut at UTRGV. There, he inherited a six-win outfit and promptly delivered 16 victories in Year 1, followed by this season’s 19-win breakout. “I am incredibly grateful for their support and excited to work alongside them towards our collective goal of building a championship program,” Fennell said, thanking president Russ Kavalhuna, Bartholomae and deputy AD Elaine Russell. “My family and I are also thrilled to be joining the Kalamazoo community.” He takes over a program that has not posted a winning record since 2017-18 and finished 10-21 this season under since-dismissed D.J. Stephens. The Broncos’ drought without an NCAA tournament berth stretches to 2014. By contrast, WMU athletics has soared elsewhere: the hockey program captured the 2025 national title, and the football team claimed the Mid-American Conference crown the same year. Fennell, a finalist for the Ben Jobe Award given to the nation’s top minority Division I head coach, will inherit a roster eligible to compete in the new arena’s debut campaign. His wife, Sarah, a former Dayton basketball player, and their children will relocate to Michigan this spring. Western Michigan was hardly alone in rebooting its basketball leadership. Eastern Michigan introduced Clemson assistant Billy Donlon this week, continuing a MAC-wide coaching overhaul that now includes Fennell among its most intriguing hires. Construction cranes hover over Kalamazoo’s campus, but the newest Bronco believes the program’s foundation will be built on relationships. “It’s a tremendous time to be a part of this university,” Fennell said, “and my staff and I cannot wait to get started.”

San Diego, CA – One day after Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr. and center Paul Mbiya helped spark a first-round escape against California Baptist, the Jayhawks find themselves staring at a far steeper challenge: a Sunday meeting with St. John’s for a berth in the Sweet 16. The contest, pitting Hall of Fame-bound Bill Self against Rick Pitino, shapes up as the most hotly debated matchup of the tournament’s opening weekend. Tip-off is barely 24 hours away, yet the line has already raised eyebrows. Despite carrying the superior seed, Kansas opened as the betting underdog. The Red Storm have won 20 of their last 21 games, swept reigning national champion UConn twice, and enter Viejas Arena with a top-10 defense that has smothered opponents throughout the stretch. ESPN’s Matchup Predictor quantifies the skepticism surrounding the Jayhawks, assigning St. John’s a 57.1 percent probability of advancing compared to Kansas’ 42.9 percent. FanDuel’s moneyline mirrors the analytics: St. John’s sits at –154, Kansas at +128. The narrow margin underscores how evenly the teams are viewed by both algorithms and oddsmakers. Motivation will not be in short supply. St. John’s leading scorer, Zuby Ejiofor, spent his freshman season in Lawrence and will face his former program on college basketball’s brightest stage. Ejiofor’s inside-out versatility has anchored the Red Storm’s late-season offensive surge, complementing a defense that has held seven consecutive opponents below 40 percent from the field. Kansas, meanwhile, is still searching for the consistency that has eluded it since a 2022 second-weekend exit. Saturday’s 26-point cushion over Cal Baptist evaporated to six in the final minutes, exposing the same second-half lulls that have dogged the Jayhawks all winter. Self conceded afterward that his rotation “hit a wall,” a phrase that has become maddeningly familiar to a fan base hungry for a return to the second weekend. The antidote may rest with freshman guard Darryn Peterson. The 19-year-old went for 28 points in his NCAA debut, burying a flurry of contested jumpers that kept the Lancers at bay. If Kansas is to topple St. John’s stingy perimeter defense, Peterson’s shot-making will need to be matched by efficient nights from Council Jr., Mbiya, and a supporting cast that shot a combined 4-of-17 from deep on Friday. History says the Jayhawks have the talent; recent history questions whether they can sustain it. Pitino’s group, winners of 13 straight away from Madison Square Garden, will pressure every passing lane and crash every glass, betting that Kansas’ intermittent focus resurfaces at the worst possible time. Tip-off is slated for shortly after 2 p.m. local time. A berth in the Sweet 16—and validation that the program’s March demons have finally been exorcised—awaits the victor.

Everton and Chelsea meet in the Premier League’s Saturday tea-time kick-off at 5:30pm GMT, with Sean Dyche’s side aiming to reignite their push for European qualification while deepening the misery surrounding Blues interim boss Liam Rosenior. Following back-to-back league victories, Everton’s momentum stalled in a 2-0 defeat at Arsenal last weekend. The Toffees remain eighth, two points behind seventh-placed Brentford with eight matches left, and will view the visit of Chelsea as an opportunity to return to winning ways at their new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium. Team news is mixed for the hosts. Jack Grealish (foot) and Carlos Alcaraz (unspecified) are ruled out, while on-loan Tyrique George is ineligible against his parent club. Defensive duo James Tarkowski and Jarrad Branthwaite are doubtful after sitting out the loss to the Gunners. Chelsea arrive on Merseyside bruised from continental elimination. A 3-0 home defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday completed an 8-2 aggregate Champions League exit and extended the club’s winless run. Reece James faces another lay-off with a hamstring problem and has been omitted from England’s forthcoming squad, while centre-back Trevoh Chalobah could miss six weeks because of an ankle injury. Rosenior, overseeing selection duties, has already made a league-high 96 starting changes this season—one more than Chelsea managed in the whole of the previous campaign. Global viewing options United States: USA Network carries the contest. New subscribers can stream free via YouTube TV’s 10-day trial. Sling TV and Fubo also carry the channel. United Kingdom: Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event are broadcasting live. Access is available through Sky TV packages (from £35 per month) or NowTV day (£14.99) and monthly (£27.99) passes. Australia: Stan Sport holds exclusive rights, showing every Premier League and Champions League fixture for AU$32 per month. Travelling abroad? A reputable VPN can help supporters retain access to home streaming services; FourFourTwo’s tech partners recommend NordVPN for speed and reliability. FourFourTwo verdict: a late Iliman Ndiaye strike could secure a crucial Everton victory, tightening the race for European places and adding to Rosenior’s mounting concerns.

Los Angeles — Less than seven months after pledging to Oregon, four-star offensive tackle Drew Fielder finds himself at the center of a high-stakes tug-of-war that could end with the Servite (Calif.) standout remaining on the West Coast and playing for USC. Fielder, rated by 247Sports as the nation’s No. 10 offensive tackle and No. 81 overall prospect in the 2027 class, committed to the Ducks on Feb. 1. The Trojans did not extend an offer until three and a half weeks later, yet the late entry has rapidly become a serious threat to pry the 6-foot-6 lineman away from Eugene. Rivals national recruiting analyst Adam Gorney reported Friday that momentum “is heavily on USC’s side,” adding that while Fielder insists his recruitment is “dead in the middle,” the prediction from Gorney’s camp is a flip to the Trojans before the cycle ends. Family connections to the university—left unelaborated—are believed to be aiding Lincoln Riley’s staff. USC has hosted Fielder twice since entering the race, first on March 6 for an unofficial visit and again seven days later. The outreach is part of a broader strategy under general manager Chad Bowden to fortify in-state recruiting. More than half of the Trojans’ 2026 signees hailed from California, and four of the program’s five current 2027 commits are in-state products. Securing Fielder would serve as the latest proof of concept. The Trojans’ 2027 group already features five-star athlete Honor Fa’alave-Johnson (No. 2 in California), four-star wideouts Quentin Hale (No. 1 in-state WR) and Eli Woodward (No. 2 in-state WR), plus four-star cornerback Aaryn Washington, who began his prep career at Mater Dei before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida. Adding the state’s top-rated offensive tackle would both elevate the class ceiling and reinforce USC’s grip on its recruiting backyard, a priority Riley has emphasized since taking over in 2021. Fielder, meanwhile, remains Oregon’s highest-ranked pledge in the 2027 cycle. A decision is not expected imminently, but the longer the evaluation stretches, the more comfortable Trojan coaches become that their late push could yield a signature coup.

With the NFL Draft now fewer than 35 days away, the New York Jets find themselves holding one of the most valuable collections of picks in the league—nine selections, four of which sit inside the top 45 and two inside the top 20. After an aggressive free-agency period that fortified several weak spots, general manager Darren Mougey must recalibrate his draft board to maximize the impact of that capital. Here are three positions where the Jets’ early-round priorities have shifted following their offseason moves. 1. Wide Receiver becomes a first-round imperative The Jets’ most glaring roster hole post-free agency is at wide receiver. Outside of Garrett Wilson, the depth chart is populated by unproven talent, and no veteran of note has been added. While Mougey could still dip into the remaining free-agent pool, the expectation inside the building is that the team will use the 16th overall pick to secure an immediate play-maker. Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is unlikely to be available, but Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, USC’s Makai Lemon, Indiana’s Omar Cooper Jr. and versatile Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq are all squarely in the Jets’ crosshairs. Landing one of them has become the clearest objective for night one of the draft. 2. Guard tumbles down the board Entering March, guard was viewed as a potential Round 1 target after the anticipated departures of John Simpson and Alijah Vera-Tucker. When both players signed elsewhere, Mougey responded by inking 26-year-old Dylan Parham to a two-year, $16 million deal. Parham, who finished 14th among qualified left guards in 2025 per Pro Football Focus, is two years younger than Simpson and comes at nearly half the price. His ability to play all three interior spots solidifies the line and removes the urgency to spend the 16th pick on the position. A Day 2 or Day 3 developmental interior lineman is now the more likely path. 3. Safety is no longer an early-round conversation Safety was arguably the Jets’ worst position group last season, but a pair of swift moves has transformed the outlook. The club acquired All-Pro Minkah Fitzpatrick for a seventh-round pick and signed former Giant Dane Belton to a one-year, $6 million prove-it deal. Those additions push the position out of the premium-pick conversation; any thought of using the No. 2 overall selection—or any of the top-45 picks—on a safety should be tabled. A late-round flyer for depth remains possible, but the starting duo is set. Armed with nine selections and fewer desperate needs than in recent years, the Jets can let the board come to them, pivoting to best-player-available rather than reaching for positional fixes. How Mougey navigates that flexibility will determine whether New York’s 2025 draft class becomes the catalyst for a postseason return.

T.Y. Hilton, the former Indianapolis Colts and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver, formally ended his 11-year NFL career Wednesday with a social-media post thanking the franchises and fans who fueled his journey. “After an incredible journey, it’s time for me to retire from the game of football and begin a new chapter,” Hilton wrote on X. “Thank you to Mr. Irsay, his family and the entire Colts organization for believing in a kid from Miami and giving me the opportunity to live out my dream wearing the horseshoe. I also want to thank the Cowboys organization for giving me the opportunity to continue playing the game I love.” The third-round pick out of Florida International in the 2012 draft spent 10 seasons in Indianapolis, emerging as one of the league’s most consistent deep threats. Hilton earned four Pro Bowl invitations and recorded five 1,000-yard campaigns, pacing the NFL with 1,448 receiving yards in 2016. He exits the Colts’ record book ranked third in both receptions and receiving yards and fourth in touchdown catches. Hilton’s final on-field action came in December 2022, when he signed with Dallas and appeared in three late-season contests, securing seven receptions for 121 yards. He had not played since, and Wednesday’s announcement removes any lingering doubt about a return. With his retirement now official, Hilton’s legacy in Indianapolis is secure as one of the most productive receivers in franchise history.

Stevenage arrive at the Select Car Leasing Stadium this weekend with a playoff pulse that belies their mid-table finish last term. After ending 2023-24 in 14th place on the back of 15 wins, 12 draws and 19 defeats, Alex Revell’s side have bolted into eighth—one point behind Reading and holding a game in hand—to keep their League One promotion dream alive. The turnaround has been orchestrated by Revell, 42, who was handed the reins on a permanent basis in May 2024 after a second stint as caretaker. A former striker with 20 years’ experience at Brighton, Rotherham, Cardiff and Northampton, Revell hung up his boots at Broadhall Way and immediately moved into the academy. His first crack at senior management came in 2020, but the pandemic curtailed that campaign; the following year he steered the club to 14th in League Two before a November 2021 sacking. Two months later he was back in the building, working his way up to Steve Evans’ first-team staff and ultimately taking the hot-seat again last spring. Revell favours an enterprising, front-foot style and has wasted no time reinforcing the squad. January brought four fresh faces through the door. Defender Jack Taylor was prised from Sutton United for a five-figure fee, Brighton midfielder Joe Knight arrived for an undisclosed sum, and experienced winger Matt Phillips joined on a free, while Bristol City forward Harry Cornick bolstered the attack on loan until May. Results have oscillated of late—three wins and three losses in the last six league outings—but the bigger picture is upward mobility. A 1-0 midweek reverse at Plymouth Argyle checked momentum, yet Stevenage’s destiny remains in their own hands. Reading edged them 1-0 in November thanks to Charlie Savage’s early strike; revenge on home soil would nudge Revell’s men even closer to the top six. Between the posts, summer signing Filip Marschall has underlined why Aston Villa invested years in his development. The 22-year-old, calm in possession and commanding in his area, has registered 13 clean sheets in 37 appearances after keeping 16 in League Two for Crewe last season. Club captain Carl Piergianni sets the tone in defence. The 33-year-old centre-back, strong in aerial duels at both ends of the pitch, has racked up 189 games and 19 goals since arriving on a free from Oldham in May 2022. A former non-league journeyman who tasted promotion with Salford, Piergianni was named both Stevenage Player of the Season and League Two Team of the Season in his first campaign and now wears the armband with typical commitment. With a blend of seasoned warriors and hungry newcomers, Revell’s evolving squad travel to Berkshire intent on proving the playoff race is far from a two-horse dash. A victory over Reading would not only avenge November’s narrow loss but also propel Stevenage into the coveted top six with time running short.

Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Football Association (QFA) on Friday released the 32-man senior national team roster that will convene for a pivotal March training camp as the Maroon step up preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be staged across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Spanish head coach Julen Lopetegui has retained four goalkeepers for the gathering: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Shehab Al Laithi and Salah Zakaria. The outfield contingent is headlined by veteran playmaker Akram Afif, record-scorer Almoez Ali, and long-serving captain Hassan Al Haydos, while also featuring a blend of domestic standouts and internationally based talents such as Edmilson Junior, Neil Mason and Lucas Mendes. The full squad list: Goalkeepers: Meshaal Barsham, Mahmoud Abunada, Shehab Al Laithi, Salah Zakaria. Outfield players: Ahmed Al Ganehi, Ahmed Al Rawi, Anas Abdessalam, Ahmed Fatehi, Akram Afif, Edmilson Junior, Ayoub Al Alawi, Ahmed Al Hassan, Al Hashmi Al Hussein, Boualem Khoukhi, Pedro Miguel, Bassam Al Rawi, Hassan Al Haydos, Almoez Ali, Neil Mason, Assim Madibo, Khaled Ali, Issa Laye, Karim Boudiaf, Mohammed Khaled, Mohammed Al Mannai, Lucas Mendes, Mubarak Shanan, Marwan Sherif, Mostafa Tarek, Homam Al Amin, Yusuf Abdurisag, Mohammed Waad. Qatar, drawn in Group B for the expanded 48-team tournament, will face Canada, Switzerland and the winner of the first European playoff path when the competition kicks off in June 2026. The March camp represents Lopetegui’s first extended domestic assembly since taking the reins and is expected to feature a series of closed-door friendlies and tactical sessions designed to refine the squad’s shape and cohesion before the final pre-tournament programme begins later this year. QFA officials confirmed the camp will run in Doha, allowing players to acclimatise to familiar conditions while the technical staff assess form, fitness and emerging talent ahead of the looming global showcase.

Celin Bizet Donnum is living proof that the two ambitions she once scribbled in a childhood diary can coexist. The Manchester United winger, capped 25 times by Norway, is weeks away from her first child and insists she has never considered swapping boots for baby blankets on a permanent basis. “If you have two dreams, you can live both of them at the same time,” she told BBC Women’s Football Weekly, speaking publicly for the first time since announcing her pregnancy in December. The baby is due in 2026, meaning Bizet Donnum will sit out the remainder of this WSL season, yet the 24-year-old frames the pause as a calculated investment rather than a sacrifice. “It was a hard thing to actually get pregnant and not be in the team. Missing out the whole season—it’s very scary,” she admitted. “But for me, it was even more scary to not have the baby in my career.” Her candour is striking in a league where, until recently, motherhood has been viewed as a post-retirement project. Ellen White, the former England striker who conducted the interview, waited until hanging up her boots before starting a family. “A lot of players older than me waited until they retired,” White reflected. “You feel like you’re having to sacrifice something.” That climate is shifting, albeit slowly. Aston Villa’s Missy Bo Kearns, also 24, revealed her own pregnancy earlier this month, while Everton loanee Hannah Blundell returned to top-flight action in November, seven months after giving birth. Birmingham City striker Simone Magill is expecting in May. Still, Bizet Donnum notes, “It’s still very rare to have a baby when you are a footballer.” FIFA’s 2024 maternity reforms have underpinned the changing landscape: a mandatory 14 weeks of full pay, flexible registration windows for returning players, and the right for clubs to sign short-term replacements. The WSL, fully professional since 2018, has enshrined these standards, yet Manchester United believe culture is just as important as compliance. United say they have built “a culture change” in which tailored nutrition, psychological support, physiotherapy and sleep programmes “break down barriers” for expectant mothers. Bizet Donnum, whose husband Aron—herself a professional footballer with Toulouse—has been granted additional travel leeway to balance medical appointments in France, praises the club’s holistic approach. Even the introduction of pelvic-floor physiotherapy, initially an alien concept, has become “game-changing”. Arsenal, West Ham, Tottenham and Brighton each told BBC Sport they have expanded on FIFA’s baseline, offering bespoke care packages. Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt and Australia midfielder Katrina Gorry were cited as examples of players who have benefited. For Bizet Donnum, the countdown to kick-off has already begun. “I am so excited to come back,” she said, admitting that watching United matches from the stands has become a weekly exercise in restraint. “It’s hard when I’m watching the games and wishing I played. But then it’s one season I am missing. After my career, will I look back and think: ‘Damn, I didn’t play that season’ or will I just be happy that I’ve had a kid?” The answer, she believes, is already written. “Of course I will come back to football—that’s my motivation.” The full conversation between Ellen White and Celin Bizet Donnum is available on the Women’s Football Weekly podcast, with an extended video version on BBC iPlayer from 26 March.

MADISON, Wis. — The opening day of spring practice for Wisconsin’s track and field programs was overshadowed Monday by an unusual security incident near Camp Randall Stadium, raising questions about safety protocols on what is traditionally an upbeat occasion for athletes and coaches. According to a spokesperson for Ridglan Farms, which operates property adjacent to the university’s outdoor facilities, “There were probably 30 different police vehicles out here at one point, arresting individuals.” The spokesperson did not specify the nature of the arrests or whether any members of the athletic department were involved, and university officials have yet to release an official statement. The disruption occurred as both the men’s and women’s teams convened for their first organized workouts of the season. Chippewa County, long viewed as a pipeline for elite high-school talent, is again expected to factor heavily into the Badgers’ fortunes this spring. Among the athletes already on campus, former McDonell Central Catholic standout Izzy Balsiger—now competing for UW-Eau Claire—has drawn attention for his second-chance resurgence with the Blugolds, underscoring the region’s depth of talent. While Monday’s practice sessions proceeded inside the stadium complex, the visible law-enforcement presence served as a jarring backdrop for coaches attempting to set an optimistic tone. Head coach Luke Fickell, who led the football team out of the same tunnel last August before a season-opening win over Miami (OH), has stressed the importance of a secure environment for all Wisconsin athletes. How the department addresses Monday’s incident could influence fan and recruit perceptions moving forward. With the outdoor season officially underway, the Badgers hope to pivot quickly from distraction to competition, beginning with this weekend’s intrasquad meet at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Cross Country Course.

Central Catholic has turned to a well-known figure within its community to guide its football program, announcing the hiring of Dubzinski as head football coach. The move underscores the school’s preference for continuity and familiarity as it looks to build on past traditions. Central Catholic has chosen a very familiar name to lead its football program.

Atlanta—Cal freshman Claire Weinstein stormed from the sixth seed to the top of the podium in the 500-yard freestyle at the women’s NCAA Championships on Friday, snapping a seven-year drought for Golden Bear individual champions and setting a school record in the process. Weinstein, 19, touched the wall in 4:30.09 at the McAuley Aquatic Center, slicing more than six seconds off her morning preliminary time of 4:36.66. The swim was the fastest in the NCAA this season and left Texas’s Jillian Cox 1.47 seconds behind in second place (4:31.56). Television commentators quickly labeled the outcome “a shocker.” The victory is Cal’s first individual national title since Abbey Weitzeil won the 50-yard freestyle in 2019 and the program’s first in the 500-free since 2017. “The last 75 yards of that race I was just replaying all of the special moments from this season,” Weinstein said in a statement released by the school. “I never wanted something so bad, so I dug deep, and thought about all the people that came before me, all the women that made Cal swimming what it is. Now this team is moving in that direction.” Cal’s 400-yard individual medley relay quartet of Mary-Ambre Moluh, Annie Jia, Elle Scott, and Teagan O’Dell added another school record, placing sixth in 3:25.09. The championship meet concludes Saturday with the 200 IM, 100 free, 200 butterfly, 200 backstroke, and 400 free relay. Cal sits sixth in the team standings and is positioned for its highest finish since the Bears were national runners-up in 2019. Virginia, chasing its sixth consecutive women’s team title, holds a commanding lead heading into the final day.

The chase for bracket perfection grew dramatically tighter on the tournament’s second day, with the number of flawless March Madness entries shrinking to only a handful. After 48 hours of games, the once-massive pool of unblemished brackets has been pared down to a precious few, underscoring both the unpredictability of the event and the slim margin between a celebrated pick and a busted sheet. As upsets and close finishes accumulate, the surviving perfect brackets now stand as rare relics of prognostication luck and skill, setting up a high-stakes weekend for those still clinging to the dream of a clean card through the tournament.

Albuquerque, N.M. — Coming off the program’s most successful and best-attended campaign in recent memory, New Mexico’s football staff will operate with a modestly larger salary pool in 2024 while rewarding a handful of assistants for their role in the resurgence. Head coach Jason Eck, whose new five-year contract included a $400,000 raise in December, watched three of his on-field assistants receive pay increases when the athletic department posted updated contracts this week. The moves nudged UNM’s total staff salary pool to $2.07 million, up from $2.04 million last season. Every assistant remains on a one-year deal with identical performance-based incentives. Defensive line coach Hebron Fangupo secured the largest bump, jumping from $150,000 to $165,000 after a debut season that produced the Mountain West’s top run defense (112.8 yards per game) and a conference-best 36 sacks. Offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner, whose unit averaged 27.1 points per game, saw his salary rise $10,000 to $385,000, making him the highest-paid assistant on staff. Safeties coach Clay Bignell also netted a $10,000 increase, bringing his pay to $130,000 after guiding a position group that weathered multiple injuries. Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky ($375,000), offensive line coach Cody Booth ($165,000), cornerbacks coach Stanley Franks Jr. ($150,000) and linebackers coach Nate Palmer ($85,000) all return at their 2023 compensation levels. Two newcomers will earn more than the coaches they replaced. Associate head coach and tight ends coach Zach Lujan and wide receivers coach Carson Walch will each make $160,000, a combined $95,000 increase over predecessors Jared Elliott ($115,000) and Colin Lockett ($110,000). Conversely, new special teams coordinator Erik Link will earn $175,000, down from Daniel Da Prato’s $250,000, and running backs coach Darrius G. Smith will make $120,000, a drop from John Johnson’s $145,000. All four previous assistants departed for Power Four programs. Eck said the salary structure is intentional. “We have a pretty high spread between our highest-paid guys on the staff and our lowest-paid guys on the staff,” he told the Journal earlier this month. “And I want that systematically, because if you can keep your coordinators in place, you know, it keeps the overall system.” UNM will hold its annual pro day on Monday, with 17 Lobos and two New Mexico Highlands standouts — safety Trevor Romaldo and offensive lineman Joe Taase — scheduled to work out for NFL scouts.

Washington, D.C. — The Oklahoma City Thunder will not be celebrating their 2024-25 NBA title at the White House, the team confirmed Thursday, citing timing constraints that prevented the visit during their lone regular-season trip to the nation’s capital. The Thunder, who enter Saturday’s game against the Washington Wizards with a league-best 55-15 record, informed the White House that the traditional championship ceremony “just didn’t work out,” according to a statement shared with The Athletic. The franchise becomes the latest NBA champion to bypass the storied photo-op, following the precedent set by the 2017 Golden State Warriors, who also declined an invitation from President Donald Trump during his first term. White House visits have been a rite of passage for American sports champions since the 1963 Boston Celtics toured 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue after capturing the NBA crown. The Celtics most recently reprised the ritual in November 2024, when they were feted by then-President Joe Biden after defeating the Dallas Mavericks in the Finals. Trump, now in his second term, has continued the custom, welcoming Inter Miami and Lionel Messi last month to honor their MLS Cup triumph, while also hosting Super Bowl victors, College Football Playoff champions, World Series winners, and, in a first last week, the 2025 Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and Women’s Professional Rodeo Association world champions. The Thunder’s decision arrives against the backdrop of heightened U.S. diplomatic activity surrounding the Iran-Israel conflict, though the team offered no further elaboration on the “timing issue” that scuttled the visit. Oklahoma City is in Washington for only one game this season, eliminating any immediate opportunity to reschedule. Meanwhile, the NFL’s reigning champion Seattle Seahawks, who defeated the New England Patriots in last month’s Super Bowl in San Francisco, have yet to announce whether they will accept a White House invitation. The previous year’s winners, the Philadelphia Eagles, attended 12 months ago without quarterback Jalen Hurts; the Eagles had earlier declined the 2018 invitation after their Super Bowl LII victory. As the Thunder pursue a repeat championship and continue to lead the Western Conference, the franchise emphasized its appreciation for the dialogue with the White House, even as the historic visit will not take place.

MOSINEE — Mosinee High School has promoted longtime assistant Kevin Sanchez-Stevenoski to head football coach, the district announced via social media on Friday, March 20. Sanchez-Stevenoski, an alternative-education teacher at the school, has spent previous seasons on the Indians’ football staff and has served as head boys track and field coach for the past four years. He now inherits a program coming off one of the most successful campaigns in school history, set in motion by former coach Kyle Stoffel, who guided the 2025 squad to historic heights before stepping away to devote more time to family. In a statement released by the district, administrators highlighted Sanchez-Stevenoski’s vision for sustaining on-field success while prioritizing character development. “He is committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment with a coaching philosophy that emphasizes accountability, resilience and a team-oriented approach,” officials said. “Kevin is dedicated to the comprehensive development of student-athletes—academic, athletic and personal—while cultivating programs built on trust, discipline and school pride.” The new coach views football as more than wins and losses, believing the sport is “a powerful tool for building confidence, discipline and lifelong character—both on and off the field.” Mosinee will look to build on last season’s momentum when preseason practices begin later this year.